Imee: Politics behind Sara’s CIF removal

Politics played a role in the House of Representatives' decision to remove the proposed confidential funds from the offices of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos said Sunday.

Without naming the person she was referring to, Marcos said the removal of confidential funds from the Duterte-led offices has something to do with the presidential elections in 2028.

"Well, I've said this before, that it looks like it was mixed with anger. I cannot understand who is in a hurry. The 2028 (election) is still far. Why are they beating up the frontrunner?" she said in a radio interview.

Last week, the House of Representatives removed P1.23 billion worth of secret funds initially allocated to five agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.

Duterte requested P650 million worth of confidential funds for the two agencies, P500 million and P150 million, respectively, for the OVP and DepEd.

When asked if politics was the real reason behind removing Duterte's confidential fund, the older Marcos quickly clarified that it was "not totally politics."

"Maybe not all of it. Not totally political, but the tone was sometimes very angry. It was too personal," she said.

"If it was just about the intel funds, remove it. That's it. But they were saying so many things and warnings. It has been mixed with other issues," she added.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte previously floated the idea that the removal of the confidential fund from his daughter's offices was politically motivated.

Marcos expressed confidence that the vice president would understand if Congress plans to remove her offices' confidential funds in the upcoming fiscal year.

"In my opinion, it was clear to the VP if it would be removed from her because the decision was not for her to make. She will accept the decision of the legislature," she said.

"If the budget committees of the House of Representatives and Senate say that, she will just accept it. She can just find another source of money," she added.